Larry the Cable Guy
Daniel Lawrence Whitney (born February 17, 1963), known professionally as Larry the Cable Guy, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and former radio personality. He was one of the members of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a comedy troupe which included Bill Engvall, Ron White, and Jeff Foxworthy (with whom he has starred on Blue Collar TV). Whitney has released seven comedy albums, three of which have been certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies. He has starred in three Blue Collar Comedy Tour related films, alongside Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector, Delta Farce and Witless Protection, and provides the voice of Mater in Disney's Cars franchise. Whitney's catchphrase "Git-R-Done!" is also the title of his book.
What was Larry The Cable Guy's early life like?
Born to Tom and Shirley Whitney in Nebraska, Dan Whitney spent his childhood on an 80-acre farm just outside of Pawnee City. His father was not only a Christian minister but also served as the principal for the elementary school at The King's Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida where Whitney attended high school from the late '70s until 1980. Afterward, he graduated from Berean Christian School in West Palm Beach in 1982, where he participated in football. Whitney pursued higher education at both Baptist University of America in Georgia and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, focusing on drama and speech. The inspiration for his Southern accent impression came from his roommates from Texas and Georgia during college years. However, after giving comedy a shot during his junior year, he decided to drop out.
What is the career of Larry The Cable Guy?
What was Larry The Cable Guy's radio career like?
Whitney initiated his radio career in the early 1990s, featuring regularly on popular programs including The Ron and Ron Show, The Bob & Tom Show, Wakin' Up With The Wolf on WPDH, and The Chris Baker Show on KDGE. He also appeared frequently on Omaha's KEZO's The Todd and Tyler Show and Kirk, Mark, and Lopez morning show on WIYY in Baltimore. Additionally, he was a regular guest on 98.9/KQRC's The Johnny Dare Morning Show in Kansas City. His radio appearances were not limited to these cities and shows; he also engaged audiences in Orlando, Florida through WJRR. New England listeners got a taste of his commentary twice weekly when he was invited to feature on Greg and the Morning Buzz broadcasted via WHEB 100.3 and WGIR-FM 101.1 in Portsmouth and Manchester of New Hampshire respectively.
What is Larry The Cable Guy's stand-up career like?
Initially, he performed stand-up comedy under his real name but didn't achieve much success. His fame took off after the creation of the Cable Guy character. Now, he consistently uses this character throughout his performances. The Cable Guy is characterized by a stereotypical "redneck" appearance and a pronounced Southern accent. He often shares anecdotes about his "family" and uses various common expressions, including his signature catchphrase "Git-R-Done!" In interviews and in his autobiography GIT-R-DONE, he admits to consciously adopting the accent both on and off stage to avoid forgetting it if he used his regular voice. His brand of humor relies heavily on catchphrases like "Lord, I apologize for that, there, and be with the starvin' Pygmies in New Guinea. Amen," which he uses after delivering jokes of questionable taste; or "I don't care who ya are, that's funny right there," which he uses after landing particularly uproarious jokes. His first two comedy albums - Lord, I Apologize (2001) and The Right to Bare Arms (2005) - have both earned gold certification from RIAA. In 2007, he released a third album titled Morning Constitutions alongside its corresponding TV special.
What other work has Larry The Cable Guy done?
Whitney was featured in a Comedy Central special on March 15, 2009. His latest travelogue series, Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy, premiered on the History Channel on February 8, 2011. The premiere garnered the attention of over four million viewers, including 1.7 million adults aged between 25 and 54. This nearly doubled the total audience of the opening episode of "Top Shot" season two. In an episode titled "Larry Goes To Washington" during the second season, Whitney made history by becoming the first non-news crew talent to be allowed into the War Room or Command Center as he discussed during the program. The series concluded on August 28, 2013. In addition to his television appearances, Whitney's voice was featured in Disneyland's California Adventure theme park's "Cars Land", specifically in a ride named "Mater's Junkyard Jamboree". Here, he reprised his character Mater from Disney/Pixar Cars movies. Moreover, Bektrom Foods from North Dakota created a range of Larry the Cable Guy food products such as boxed hamburger dinners. A portion of sales proceeds were directed towards supporting the "Git-R-Done Foundation". Whitney was also seen participating in season six of The Masked Singer as a wild card contestant under the guise "Baby". This marked another first for him as it was also noted as being this show's debut human character.
What is Known About Larry The Cable Guy's Personal Life?
Whitney and his wife Cara tied the knot in 2005, and they have two children: a son named Wyatt and a daughter named Reagan. They live on a 180-acre farm in Lincoln, Nebraska. In 2009, the couple founded the Git-R-Done Foundation to support individuals who have faced unforeseen hardships. Whitney is a practicing Christian who reaffirmed his faith in 2014. In Whitney's birthplace, Pawnee City, Nebraska, there is a street named after him. He also kindly donated funds to upgrade the theatrical equipment at the local high school. A loyal fan of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Whitney often sports a camouflage hat with "HUSKERS", the nickname of University of Nebraska–Lincoln, imprinted on it. This was evident in the 2007 film Delta Farce. He also wears a gold chain with a Nebraska "N" pendant. During a 2016 match between Nebraska and Illinois at Memorial Stadium, he defeated Army veteran John O'Connell in an arm wrestling contest within less than one minute. Besides football, Whitney is also fond of REO Speedwagon band. In 2013, he performed with them at a benefit concert for tornado disaster relief in Bloomington, Illinois. In September 2010, Whitney gifted $5 million to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando for advancements at their International Hip Dysplasia Institute following their successful treatment of son Wyatt's dysplasia as an infant. This donation was followed by other private donations from Whitney and Cara and fundraising through Family Feud and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. In recognition of their contributions, the hospital opened the Wyatt Whitney Wing in May 2012. Among his prized possessions is a George Strait neon sign that he acquired backstage at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. For the U.S presidential election held in 2016, Whitney endorsed Gary Johnson. In June 2023, rumors of Whitney's demise at 60 made rounds, but they were later refuted and proven false.
What are the radio shows associated with Larry The Cable Guy?
Whitney is presently employed as a radio personality on Sirius XM's Jeff & Larry's Comedy Roundup channel.
What is Larry The Cable Guy's Discography?
The box set includes three items: The Right to Bare Arms, Christmastime in Larryland, and Morning Constitutions.